Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDISAM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDISAM’, particularly characterized by having white flowers with dark purple flecks, the intensity of which depends on the temperature during opening of the flower buds, 1 to 2 peduncles, a peduncle that is long and moderate, leaves that are obovate and moderately elongated, and is propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis Hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDISAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDISAM’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes or panicles,often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning withthe lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDISAM’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique white flowers with dark purple flecks, economicalpropagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimensionsuitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDISAM’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inBleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDISAM’ originated from a cross made in August2005 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a white fleckedPhalaenopsis pot plant named ‘21062-0018’ (unpatented), while the maleparent is a pink Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘04347-0001’ (unpatented).A single plant was selected in August 2008 and has been asexuallyreproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands over a 3.5-year period. The new variety has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDISAM’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in July 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 25, 2014. ‘PHALDISAM’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flowers with dark purple flecks, the intensity of which        depends on the temperature during opening of the flower buds;    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and moderate;    -   4) The shape of the leaf is obovate and moderately elongated;        and    -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in October 2014.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALDISAM’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDISAM’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDISAM’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDISAM’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in October 2014. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Hybrid.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDISAM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘21062-0018’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘04347-0001’            (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—50.0 cm to            60.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—34.0 cm to 39.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green-colored roots with branching            lateral roots having grey-green colored root tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 16.0 cm            to 20.0 cm. Width: 5.5 cm to 7.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf            blade angle with the petiole: Between 15 degrees and 30            degrees. Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS            147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B. Texture: Slightly rough.            Thickness: 2.4 mm to 2.9 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel.            Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower            surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 13.        -   Length.—40.0 cm to 45.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.3 mm to 5.6 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200C).        -   Internode length.—27.0 mm to 37.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base of first flower to tip            of inflorescence): 140.0 mm to 190.0 mm. Diameter (diameter            of peduncle of inflorescence): 4.0 mm to 4.5 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 79.0 mm to 84.0 mm. Diameter: 85.0 mm to            90.0 mm. Depth of lip: 18.5 mm to 20.5 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 13 to 15 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Asymmetric emarginated. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to            tip): 38.0 mm to 40.0 mm. Width: 41.0 mm to 43.0 mm. Color            (when fully opened): Main color: Flecks are            red-purple/greyed-purple (RHS 59A, 187D and 187A); the            flecks become darker with lower temperature and lighter with            higher temperature. At the base: White (RHS 155C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm. Width: 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Main color: Flecks are            red-purple/greyed-purple (RHS 59A, 187D and 187A); the            flecks become darker with lower temperature and lighter with            higher temperature. At the base: White (RHS 155C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length (from            base to tip): 42.0 mm to 44.0 mm. Width: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Main color: Flecks are            red-purple/greyed-purple (RHS 59A, 187D and 187A); the            flecks become darker with lower temperature and lighter with            higher temperature. At the base: White (RHS 155C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Length: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm.            Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Whiskers: Present. Length of            whiskers: Short; 5.0 mm.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis). Curvature:            Medium. Color: Red-purple (RHS 59A and 60C) with a small            yellow spot towards callus (RHS 3C).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Trullate. Color: Red-purple (RHS 60A and            64B) with a small yellow spot towards callus (RHS 3C).        -   Callus.—Color: Dark purple (RHS 187A and 187C).        -   Pedicel.—Length: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Diameter: 3.2 mm to 3.4            mm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 5.6 mm to            5.8 mm. Color: Purple (RHS 78A).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color: Orange            (RHS 25A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Diameter: 2.7 mm to 2.9            mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDISAM’ differs from female parent ‘21062-0018’ (unpatented) in that‘PHALDISAM’ has a red-purple lip with a small yellow spot towards thecallus, whereas ‘21062-0018’ has a yellow-white and lilac lip.Additionally, ‘PHALDISAM’ has a type V lateral lobe and darker greenleaves, whereas ‘21062-0018’ has a type IV lateral lobe and lightergreen leaves.

‘PHALDISAM’ differs from male parent ‘04347-0001’ (unpatented) in that‘PHALDISAM’ has flowers that are white with dark purple flecks and adark purple callus, whereas ‘04347-0001’ has flowers that are evenlypink and a yellow dotted callus. Additionally, ‘PHALDISAM’ has morenarrow petals with undulation of the margin, whereas ‘04347-0001’ hasbroader petals with an entire margin.

‘PHALDISAM’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALFUNEL’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDISAM’ has a red-purple apical lobe of the lip with a smallyellow spot towards the callus and shorter whiskers, whereas ‘PHALFUNEL’has a yellow-white apical lobe of the lip and longer whiskers.Additionally, ‘PHALDISAM’ has a purple column, whereas ‘PHALFUNEL’ has awhite column.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDISAM’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.